ClubsNSW is an Australian organisation that lobbies for the gambling industry. It is the peak organisation for gambling and hospitality venues in the state of New South Wales, and represents over 1,000 pubs and clubs statewide. It is a subsidiary of the nationwide peak body Clubs Australia.
 | |
| Company type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | New South Wales |
Key people |
|
| Website | clubsnsw |
Described as one of the most powerful lobbying organisations in Australia,[1] it has exerted considerable influence within New South Wales, and has been embroiled in several controversies. Most notably, it was involved in a lengthy legal battle with whistleblower and former employee Troy Stolz, after Stolz leaked confidential documents revealing that ClubsNSW was not complying with anti-money laundering laws.
History
editAccording to the company's website, ClubsNSW was established in 1920.[2] Gambling machines were legalised in New South Wales in 1956, and the organisation would grow into becoming the peak body for the gambling industry in the state by the mid-2010s. Between July 1999 and June 2015, ClubsNSW made over $2 million in political donations to the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition, as well directly to politicians, in an effort to lobby for gambling industry interests.[3] The organisation has used its status to influence political events, notably when it spent an estimated $3.5 million to successfully campaign against gambling reforms proposed by federal MP Andrew Wilkie, leading to the Labor government of Julia Gillard rescinding its commitment to implement them.[4][5] According to The Sydney Morning Herald in May 2013, ClubsNSW executives attended a lobbying course in Washington DC, including seminars from members of the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) in an effort to learn "how to use a large membership base to force political outcomes".[6]
In 2024, sixteen venues represented by ClubsNSW were impacted by a data breach that exposed the private information of up to one million patrons.[7]
Controversies
editTroy Stolz and Friendlyjordies
editTroy Stolz worked for ClubsNSW as a compliance officer, but resigned from the company in September 2019 after he leaked an internal document to MP Andrew Wilkie showing that only 5 to 10 percent of venues represented by ClubsNSW were in compliance with anti-money laundering laws; Stolz alleged that money laundering in New South Wales gambling venues was rife.[8] Stolz took ClubsNSW to court in March 2020, alleging that he was bullied and blacklisted from the industry by senior staff, and sought $2 million in damages. He was counter-sued by the company in April 2020 for leaking confidential information.[9][10]
In July 2022, YouTube personality Jordan Shanks, better known as Friendlyjordies, published a video titled The Legal Way to Take a Life, which featured an interview with Stolz. In response, ClubsNSW began a highly unusual private prosecution against both Shanks and Stolz, alleging that the video interview constituted contempt of court on both their parts, making Shanks and Stolz face criminal conviction and potential prison sentences. ClubsNSW also sought and obtained an interim suppression order, something normally only seen in high-level criminal cases. Following this, the video interview was taken down.[11] Following a protracted legal battle, ClubsNSW dropped all legal action against the two in February 2023.[12]
Dominic Perrottet "catholic gut" controversy
editIn January 2023 ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis was fired after stating that New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet was seeking to introduce cashless gambling card reforms to NSW gambling venues because of his "Catholic gut".[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Wilkins, Georgia (22 July 2021). "ClubsNSW has made a bid to silence a whistleblower. Instead, it may have turned up the volume on corruption claims". Crikey. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "ClubsNSW Corporate Profile". clubsnsw.com.au. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Paying the piper and calling the tune? Following ClubsNSW's political donations". The Conversation. 24 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Panichi, James (1 July 2013). "The lobby group that got more bang for its buck". Inside Story. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Under the influence". ABC News. 23 November 2021. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Aston, Heath (11 May 2013). "Pokies chiefs learnt straight-shooting skills from powerful US gun lobby". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "More than a million people are at risk of identity theft after data breach at clubs and pubs". News.com.au. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
- ^ "Hell hath no fury like a terminally ill pokies whistleblower". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Whistleblower says he was blacklisted by ClubsNSW: 'I can't even get a job picking up glasses'". ABC News.
- ^ "ClubsNSW sues its former employee who blew the whistle on pokies money laundering". ABC News. 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ "Friendlyjordies' Jordan Shanks and ClubsNSW whistleblower face criminal contempt proceedings". The Guardian. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ Knaus, Christopher (16 February 2023). "ClubsNSW drops contempt charges against Friendlyjordies over pokies whistleblower". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Rose, Tamsin (2023-01-31). "ClubsNSW boss sacked after accusing Dominic Perrottet of acting on his 'Catholic gut'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-13.